College Scholarship Contest for Children of Farm Famlies - UNL CropWatch, July 7, 2011

College Scholarship Contest for Children of Farm Famlies - UNL CropWatch, July 7, 2011

July 7, 2011

A new scholarship contest is open to the children of Nebraska farmers, according to an announcement this week by First National Bank of Omaha (FNBO) and Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg  Three winners will each receive a $5,000 NEST (Nebraska Educational Savings Trust) scholarship sponsored by the bank.

“First National Bank of Omaha has been committed to the communities of Nebraska and the agricultural industry for over 150 years,” said David Cota, Senior Managing Director, First National Bank of Omaha. “We are proud to offer the farming families across Nebraska the opportunity to get a head start on saving for college through this scholarship contest.”

“As the cost of higher education continues to rise, we are committed to making it easier and more affordable for families to save for college,” said Nebraska State Treasurer Don Stenberg. “Offering scholarship opportunities such as this is just one example of that commitment.”

The contest runs through August 5, 2011. Each contestant must write and submit an essay describing how growing up as part of a farming family impacts his or her goals for higher education. The typed essay must be no more than 750 words and may be submitted by:

  • Emailing to NEST@fnni.com no later than 11:59 p.m. August 5, 2011. The subject line should read: NEST on the Farm Scholarship.
     
  • Or mailing it to First National Bank of Omaha, ATTN: NEST on the Farm Scholarship, 1620 Dodge Street., Stop 1105, Omaha, NE 68197 (postmarked no later than August 5, 2011).

All entries will be divided into three age groups: 7-9 years of age; 10-11 years; and 12-13 years. The winners will be announced at the Nebraska State Fair in Grand Island on Saturday, September 3, 2011.

Additional qualifications include:

  • The children must live on a farm or a parent or guardian must work on a Nebraska farm. Winners will need to provide proof of age, proof of living on a farm and/or proof that a parent or guardian works on a Nebraska farm.
     
  • The children must have a valid social security number and a Nebraska residential street address.
     
  • The children must fall within their respective age groups on the day the award is announced.
     
  • The scholarship will be awarded to the child and deposited into an account owned by the Nebraska Educational Savings Trust, held on behalf of the winner. Winnings and earnings, if any, can only be used to pay for qualified higher education expenses at an eligible educational institution, which includes colleges, universities, community colleges and technical schools throughout the United States and some abroad. The winnings do not have to be used at a Nebraska school.
     
  • If the child cannot use the scholarship, the money will be forfeited.

For complete scholarship contest rules and regulations, visit the NEST Direct College Savings Plan at www.NEST529direct.com, the State Treasurer’s Office at www.treasurer.org, or the Department of Agriculture at www.agr.ne.gov.
 

Online Master of Science in Agronomy

With a focus on industry applications and research, the online program is designed with maximum flexibility for today's working professionals.

A field of corn.